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July, 2018

* The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced in June that it is considering updating certain regulations. CEQ writes that it has issued numerous guidance documents during the past 40 years but it has substantively amended its regulations just once – in 1986 (uh, that's only 32 years ago). CEQ is looking for comments on twenty core questions dealing with process and programmatic scope; yes, there are sub-parts within some questions. This starts an important dialogue, directly linked to President Trump’s efforts at regulatory streamlining. Consider the first question: “Should CEQ’s NEPA regulations be revised to ensure that environmental reviews and authorization decisions involving multiple agencies are conducted in a manner that is concurrent, synchronized, timely, and efficient, and if so, how?” The “how” is the hard part, right...? If you have that figured out make sure you send in your comments by July 20 (don’t be surprised if that deadline is extended).

* The Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), chaired by the National Science Foundation, is seeking public comments on newly revised Principles for Conducting Research in the Arctic. This revised document updates a 1990 document, but with a slightly different name, Principles for the Conduct of Research in the Arctic. The revised draft provides guidelines for the "equitable conduct of research" and it is meant to better align research with U.S. Arctic policy. The draft results from work by an IARPC “Principles Revision Working Group;” changes are based on a “comprehensive literature review and seeking and receiving diverse input from Alaska Natives, Federal and State and local agency representatives, and researchers.” The Working Group will issue a final version after reviewing public comments, which are due September 4.

* Big Gubmint’s creeping back in…! A check on Federal Register pages at the end of second quarter shows – an increase compared to a year ago. Here are the numbers: Total FR pages at the end of June 2018 – 30829. One year ago, end of June 2017, total pages were 30719. That’s 110 more pages of some great reading…!﻿

Environmental Update - 06/25/18﻿

* The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has a Draft report available addressing the Draft Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls (PFAS). ATSDR is seeking public comments and additional information, reports, and studies about the health effects of PFAS, used by industry in production and in a wide range of consumer products. Lately this has been another big groundwater issue in Michigan. ATSDR solicits any relevant, additional information and studies; comments are due by July 23. This set of compounds is the focus of a new EPA national initiative to determine what’s going on and what needs to be done regarding PFAS. EPA has a two-day set of public meetings on PFAS in New Hampshire today and tomorrow, one of a number of “community engagements” to help the Agency address challenges with PFAS and help with planning for next steps.

* The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) uses a “collision risk model” (CRM) to predict the number of golden and bald eagles that may be killed at new wind facilities. The model incorporates existing information on eagle exposure and collision probability in the form of “prior distributions” (priors). FWS has undertaken an analysis to update the priors using "all available data" that meet specific criteria for both eagle species. FWS has a summary report of its analysis, which generates new exposure and collision priors for both species of eagle. FWS is seeking public comments on the summary report, which will be considered by the Service before using the new priors in the CRM. Comments are due on or before August 20, 2018.

* Remember Burning Man last year, Dude?! It’s just soooo cool that the Bureau of Land Management plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement as it considers a 10-year special recreation permit for Pershing County, NV. What are the issues? Well, you know, 100,000 people all having fun in a non-city: spiritual, creative and detritus. BM requires a total land area covering 14,714 acres. Using approximately 16.5 million gallons of water per year for dust abatement (in Nevada!) and in support of event activities. Increased airborne dust and air quality impacts. Solid waste and how it will be disposed when, you know, peeps leave. Then there's monitoring to watch for degradation of federal land and how BLM (read taxpayers) is compensated for its work. Don't forget traffic and load capacity on public roads. Don’t let the Man bring you down, man. Send comments by August 6.

BTW... Holiday next week! Hollah atcha again on July 9! Have a GREAT 4th!﻿